Allowed and Prohibited Substances

List of Allowed, Prohibited, and Restricted Substances for Produce and Livestock

The following is a list of some commonly-used substances that are Allowed, Restricted, and Prohibited in the CNG Program. This list is NOT exhaustive, but is meant to give producers and consumers a better idea of our standards and address some common questions.

Because certain substances are allowed for particular uses, but not others, this list is organized by use: Fertility and Soil Amendments, Plant Pests and Diseases, Weed Control, Livestock External Parasiticides, Livestock Feed Additives, and Livestock Health. (Print this page.)

The National List of Allowed & Prohibited Substances lists the NOPs exceptions to the rules that synthetic materials aren't allowed, and non-synthetic materials are allowed.

ALLOWED

Fertility and Soil Amendments - Allowed Substances

Animal and plant products such as -bone, blood, and feather meal-alfalfa and soybean meal-fish emulsion-molasses-neem-yucca

Compost- [NOTE: for plant materials, must be heated to at least 131°F (55°C) for at least 3 days. For compost containing animal and plant materials, must be heated to 131°-170°F for at least 15 days and must be turned 5 times.]

Compost tea – [NOTE: same restrictions as raw manure – “It may only be (i) applied to land used for a crop not intended for human consumption;(ii) incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles; or (iii) incorporated into the soil not less than 90 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion does not have direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles.]”

Soaps - non-detergent only; for food crops only; as a pesticide, fungicide, or algaecide. If used as herbicide, must be used only on non-food plants or around buildings, roadways, etc. Cannot be used for disease control

Streptomycin Sulfate and Tetracycline- only for fire blight in apples and pears

Sticky Traps

Sulfur dioxide—underground rodent control only (smoke bombs)

Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) – for rodent control

Weed Control - Allowed Substances

Mulch such as -Biodegradable plastic-Paper that is not glossy and does not have colored ink-Plastic mulch, so long as it is removed-Straw

Livestock External Parasiticides - Allowed Substances

Biologicals such as-Spinosad (NatularTM)-Pyrethrum (EquisectTM)

Essential oils-Citronella-Grapeseed-Jojoba-Lemongrass-Soybean oil

Livestock Feed Additives - Allowed Substances

*NOTE: these “may not be used in amounts above those needed for adequate nutrition and health maintenance at its specific stage in life. May not be used to stimulate growth or production.”*

Diatomaceous earth

Fish meal

Kelp and seaweed meal

Minerals such as-Calcium-Carbon-Cobalt-Copper-Iron-Magnesium-Manganese-Phosphate-Potassium-Sodium-Sulfur-Zinc

Probiotics –NOTE: some products can be fed routinely, while others can only be administered in case of illness

Salt

Synthetic-Phosphorus-Selenium

Yeast

Yucca

Livestock Health - Allowed Substances

Aspirin - to reduce inflammation

Colostrum/Whey Antibodies

Essential oils such as-Eucalyptus-Lemon-Oregano-Thymol

Glycerin—“must be produced through the hydrolysis of fats or oils.”

Iodine -topical

Mineral oil -topical

Oxytocin

Probiotics –NOTE: some products can be fed routinely, while others can only be administered in case of illness

High salt content fertilizers such as sodium nitrate, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride –must have a plan to limit salt accumulation

Sodium (Chilean) nitrate -must not account for more than 20% of crop’s total N requirement

Synthetic micronutrients – use is permitted if there is a documented deficiency

Micronutrients— may only be used for fertility, and there must be a documented deficiency. Micronutrients made from nitrates or chlorides are prohibited

Raw manure – must be applied 120 days before harvest

Plant Pests and Diseases - Restricted Substances

Copper –must be used in a manner that prevents accumulation in the soil

Boric acid—only if there is no direct contact with organic food or crops

Soaps - only non-detergent soaps can be used; can only be used as a pesticide, fungicide, or algaecide on food crops cannot be used for disease control. If used as herbicide, must be used only on non-food plants or around buildings, roadways, etc.

Weed Management - Restricted Substances

Herbicidal soaps – must not come into contact with crops, only for controlling weeds around buildings and roadways

Livestock Health - Restricted Substances

Invermectin (for dairy stock and breeder stock) – only for emergency treatment, milk products from a treated animal may not be marketed as CNG for 90 days. For breeder stock, must not be used during the third trimester. It is prohibited for use on slaughter stock.

Atrophine –only by lawful written order of veterinarian and with a meat withdrawal period of 56 days for slaughter stock, and milk discard of 12 days for dairy

Butorphanol - only by lawful written order of veterinarian and with a meat withdrawal period of 42 days for slaughter stock, and milk discard of 8 days for dairy

Poloxalene - only for emergency treatment of bloat.

Methionine -“for use only in organic poultry production until October 1, 2012, at the following maximum levels of synthetic methionine per ton of feed: laying chickens—4 pounds; broiler chickens—5 pounds; turkeys and all other poultry—6 pounds.”